Next Generation Partners

Energy and natural resources in Venezuela

D'Empaire

D'Empaire is widely recognised for its oil and gas practice, which combines its knowledge and experience in the sector with its M&A and finance expertise. The firm has assisted foreign companies with energy-related projects and transactions, including advising international construction and engineering companies in connection with the execution of EPC turn-key projects. ‘Excellent advisersCarlos Omaña, an expert in oil and gas projects, and Fulvio Italiani, who is experienced in major energy-related transactions, lead the team, while José Valecillos, José Humberto Frías, Arnoldo Troconis and Roberto Mas are also key names in the practice.

Practice head(s):

Fulvio Italiani; Carlos Omaña


Testimonials

Due to the overall quality of the services provided by D’Empaire, I don’t think we’ll be looking for any alternatives any time soon. The responsiveness of the firm, their flexibility and the quality of their product is overall excellent. We are very happy to see that the partners are directly involved in the work on a daily basis. It feels like I can pick up the phone any time and call any of the partners involved and discuss anything, as if the partners of D’Empaire are actually a part of the internal project team. They are very easy and pleasant to work with. At the same time, I am amazed at how quickly they can deliver top-notch product.

We have been working with Carlos Omaña, Fulvio Italiani and José Valecillos. All are excellent advisors. They are very keen, insightful and responsive. I also appreciate the strategic thinking and their easy, outgoing nature.

Key clients

KCA Deutschland


Repsol


Stain


N+ Strategic Investors


Sucre Energy Group


Gas Guarico


Ecofuel (Eni)


Latham & Watkins


ChampionX


Work highlights


  • Assisting KCA Deutag as Venezuelan counsel in its acquisition of Saipem’s onshore drilling business.
  • Providing corporate, regulatory and compliance advice to Repsol.
  • Advising Gas Guarico on multiple business operations and financing matters.

Dentons

Dentons combines its energy practice with its work on advising international investors on foreign sanctions, and also draws on the expertise of its regional offices in renewables and power. The practice has a focus on the oil and gas and mining sectors, with key highlights including advising on the creation of the first gold mixed company and advising on gold projects. Sergio Casinelli aids clients in regulatory issues, alongside handling a range of transactional work for E&P companies and oilfield service providers. Natalija Vojvodic has significant experience in oil and gas projects, including the negotiation of the conversion of former oil operating services agreements and former association agreements into oil joint ventures. Daniela Jaimes has assisted with contracts for energy projects in Venezuela and other Latin American jurisdictions. Rubén Eduardo Luján and Luis Andueza are the other key contacts in the team.

Practice head(s):

Sergio Casinelli; Natalija Vojvodic; Daniela Jaimes; Rubén Eduardo Luján


Key clients

General Fuel Company


OMV


CNPC


Venezuelan Company of Integrated Projects (VEPICA)


InterJuris Abogados

InterJuris Abogados is renowned for its work relating to crude oil and extra heavy oil projects, alongside converting hydrocarbon projects to joint venture companies. The firm operates across multiple jurisdictions, enabling it to advise international clients on Venezuelan law, including navigating US economic sanctions. Practice head Gabriela Rachadell de Delgado is involved in a range of transactions within the energy and natural resources sector. Juan José Delgado has experience in advising local and international corporations in areas including exploration and operating agreements. Luis Ortiz Álvarez advises on US sanctions affecting oil and gas projects, and Adriana Lezcano combines her corporate practice with her experience in the oil and gas sector to advise on production sharing contracts and M&A. Fernando Ríos Morillo focuses on the sale of assets, M&A and spin-offs involving energy companies.

Practice head(s):

Gabriela Rachadell de Delgado


Testimonials

A local and international approach integrated in a coherent and practical way to obtain results.

Juan José Delgado and Gabriela Rachadell are lawyers with a very high profile and superior know-how.

I am very happy with the service provided over the years, not only by the firm, but by the team of lawyers who always go above and beyond for us as clients. I would definitely recommend them to other companies.

Key clients

Inpex


DLA Piper


Mitsubishi


Vinccler


Geohidra


Instituto de Empresas Madrid


Inelectra


Hafran


Grupo Temis


Inepetrol


Lega

Lega has experience in the development, construction and financing of major oil and gas, hydroelectric power and petrochemical projects throughout Venezuela, in addition to advising on the international financing structures used by Venezuelan public sector entities to obtain significant funding for exports of oil, derivatives and minerals. Miguel Rivero, a former president of the board of directors of the Venezuelan Association of Gas Processors, specialises in the oil and gas space, where he advises on upstream, midstream and downstream matters. José Alberto Ramírez has worked on the structuring and implementation of high-profile loans in the energy sector.

Practice head(s):

Miguel Rivero


Testimonials

A cohesive and multidisciplinary team.

Excellent service, professionalism and multidisciplinary abilities. José Alberto Ramírez and Miguel Rivero stand out.

The Lega team is very capable of presenting a fair legal assessment of the current situation in Venezuela for international investors.

Key clients

Great Energy


GPB Neftegas


Metalurgica Premier


Scaltech International


Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR)


Gazprombank Latin America Ventures


Venezuelan Association of Gas Processors (AVPG)


GPB Energy Services


Costa Norte Construcciones


Sinopec USA


Work highlights


  • Assisting Gazprombank Latin-American Venture in its contractual relationship with PDVSA in the Petrozamora joint venture.
  • Advising Wood on the winding up of its subsidiaries’ operations in Venezuela.
  • Advising the Venezuelan Association of Gas Processors (AVPG) on its day-to-day operations.

Baker & McKenzie, S.C.

Baker & McKenzie, S.C. benefits from its international platform when advising major clients such as Chevron on the evaluation and negotiation of contracts and regulatory compliance matters. The team has a track record of working with private oil and gas companies to assist with their operations in Venezuela. Practice head Eugenio Hernández-Bretón is a specialist in the oil and gas sector. Maria Eugenia Salazar is experienced in handling regulatory matters and acting as a contract negotiator between private companies and Venezuela’s national oil company (PDVSA) and its subsidiaries. Senior associate Héctor Martínez is noted for his combined practice in energy and natural resources alongside international arbitration and public law.

Practice head(s):

Eugenio Hernández-Bretón


Key clients

Total Energies


Helmerich & Payne


Braskem


Gazprom


Equinor


Eni


Schlumberger


Work highlights


  • Advising Total Energies regarding its natural gas and oil operations in Venezuela.
  • Assisting Helmerich & Payne with its corporate and regulatory obligations in Venezuela.

Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Paez Pumar & Cia.

Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Paez Pumar & Cia. handles a wide variety of energy and natural resources matters, including work derived from international sanctions. The practice is led by Diego Lepervanche and Luisa Lepervanche, who have advised clients regarding sanctions within the oil and gas sector and their interaction with Venezuelan law, and Esteban Palacios. Furthermore, the firm is engaged on project finance and energy-related M&A mandates, assisting private equity and other clients. Manuel Acedo Sucre is a specialist in oil-related project financings and has led privatisation projects in the energy area.

Practice head(s):

Esteban Palacios; Diego Lepervanche; Luisa Lepervanche


Testimonials

It is a team that is fully integrated with our company and is an unrivalled ally.

Key clients

Corporación Solsica


Corporación de Cemento Andino


Formiconi


Work highlights


  • Advised clients in the oil sector in connection with US and EU sanctions as they interact with Venezuelan law.
  • Advising Corporación de Cemento Andino on the expropriation procedure of a cement production complex in Venezuela, in which the tribunal ordered that the owner should be properly compensated for the loss of property.
  • Assisted national and international private clients with their energy projects with the Venezuelan state and/or state-owned companies.

Palacios, Torres & Korody

Palacios, Torres & Korody has longstanding experience of advising key players in the energy sector on financing, taxation, regulatory and operational matters. Clients include licensees, concessionaires and private-sector partners to mixed companies. Leonardo Palacios, who has a focus on in the restructuring of companies and privatisation in the oil and gas field, leads the practice alongside Juan Korody, who represents oil and gas companies, and Carlos Plaza. Daniel Betancourt is another key name in the practice.

Practice head(s):

Leonardo Palacios; Carlos Plaza; Juan Korody


Testimonials

The PTCK team has extensive experience in the area, and knows how to propose the most practical solutions in a way that is accessible to the client.

PTCK attorneys are engaged, reactive when needed and update clients on any relevant issues.

Key clients

Total Oil and Gas Services


Schlumberger Venezuela


Eni Venezuela


Ypergas


Sucre Energy Group


Perenco Venezuela


Cardón IV


Work highlights


  • Advised Total on all fiscal and regulatory matters concerning the transfer of its share participation in the Petrocedeño Public-Private Joint Venture.
  • Advised Schlumberger on the corporate, fiscal, regulatory and investment protection aspects of a corporate restructuring of its Venezuelan subsidiaries.
  • Advised Eni Venezuela on implementing reforms to longstanding income tax policy in regards to the production and sale of natural gas in Venezuela.

LEC Abogados

LEC Abogados advises clients involved in major oil and gas projects in the Venezuela and other Latin American jurisdictions, assisting local and international companies. Juan Carlos Andrade is experienced in advising on corporate and finance matters relating to oil and gas, including acting as legal counsel of the Venezuelan Petroleum Chamber.

Rodríguez & Mendoza

Rodríguez & Mendoza has experience of advising on environmental issues for clients in the food, construction, oil and gas, and shipping industries. In addition, the team has acted as legal adviser to national and foreign companies that have participated in the reactivation of marginal oil fields and the exploration and exploitation of natural gas. Reinaldo Hellmund is a key name in the firm.

Torres, Plaz & Araujo

Torres, Plaz & Araujo is recognised for its expertise in extractive markets, including oil and gas and mining, ranging from upstream and downstream matters to petrochemical and power generation projects. The team has recently been involved in the restructuring of international oil companies in Venezuela, including setting up joint ventures with PDVSA and obtaining offshore licences for gas EEP projects. Juan Carlos Garantón-Blanco, Valentina Cabrera Medina and Federico Araujo Medina jointly head the department.

Practice head(s):

Juan Carlos Garantón Blanco; Valentina Cabrera Medina; Federico Araujo Medina


Key clients

BP Group


Shell Group (Shell de Venezuela)


Anglo American Group (Minera Loma De Níquel)


Rodrigo Elias & Medrano Abogados


Total Group


Exxon


Marítima Altair


Petrosaudi International


Ampelman Operations


Consorcio 400 KV


Work highlights


  • Advising BP Group on its corporate and financial structure in Venezuela.
  • Assisting Shell Group with regulatory and tax issues related to crude oil E&EP and offshore natural gas licences.
  • Advised Anglo American Group on regulatory and tax issues related to an ICSID claim for the takeover of its assets in Venezuela.

Travieso Evans Arria Rengel & Paz

Historically specialised in the oil and gas sector, Travieso Evans Arria Rengel & Paz covers all aspects of matters in the energy field, from regulatory issues and contracts to labour and tax issues. The firm acts for leading clients in the industry such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron. The department is led by Simón Guevara Camacho and Eduardo Travieso Uribe, both of whom are frequent advisers to national and multinational companies in the oil and gas sphere. Hernando Barboza Russian and Daniela Del Vecchio are key names in the practice, having assisted clients in the energy sector with M&A.

Practice head(s):

Simon Guevara Camacho; Eduardo Travieso Uribe